Special Day

This day will always be a special day for me (and the Giant as well). On January 10, 2010, we found out we were expecting the sweetest surprise of our lives.

Our first picture of little Peapod

My how a year changes us.

My Sweet Peapod

I am so blessed to have this sweet little girl in my life.

Super famous super baby

Today, Peapod and I went along with Nana and Skipper to a Republican Rally where little Peapod was more popular than the speakers. Just raising her right, my little patriotic Conservative in the making. She was not as impressed with the Bigwigs as the Bigwigs were impressed with her. Ha! I was just impressed she didn't fuss too much. I am such a proud momma.

The fabulous Momma and her fabulous baby

US Congressman Bob Goodlatte

State Senator Ralph Smith

Soon-to-be elected to the House of Delegates Greg Habeeb

VA Governor's wife, the First Lady of Virginia Maureen McDonnell. Cheyanne drooled a little on her...oops! But she was so sweet about it. She is too sweet. Future first lady of the United States anyone?!

Maureen and us- After being passed all around, I think Chey was happier in her Momma's arms- as usual

Governor Bob McDonnell

He sent the Giant a letter last week thanking him for his service. I made sure to thank him for his thank you card ;)

One very proud Nana showing off her g'baby

Roommate-less

For the first time in 13 months, I slept in a room all by myself. Two nights ago, I decided it was time to move Peapod into her own room. Neither of us were sleeping well anymore and it wasn't helping her out at all to have her Momma a foot away. There have been many times since being here that I have woken up standing next to her bed, literally. At her first beckoning whine, I instinctively would go to "save" her. Even in my sleep. Bad bad. And she had been reverting back to sleeping in 3 hour increments- sleep 3 hoursish, cry, nurse, sleep 3 more hoursish, cry, nurse, all over. So, after much consideration, it seemed like the right time to make the break. So far, we're two nights in. Night one went really well. Still nursed the same times, but it was much easier for us both to go back to sleep. Night two...not so well. I think I might be trying to change too much at one time, but I'm attempting to eliminate one of the night feedings as well. I read a real eye opening chapter in my book What to Expect the First Year which said that physiologically a thriving healthy baby doesn't need to eat during the night. Instead, it becomes a comfort and keeps baby from learning to put herself back to sleep. Thus the big changes that I'm attempting. She is obviously healthy and very obviously thriving, so now we work on her sleeping. Last night, after putting her back to sleep from waking up around 4am (without nursing), she fell asleep for ten minutes at a time- 3 times. After the third time in an hour of getting up, shushing/rocking her back to sleep, getting back in bed, then waking up to her crying through the monitor ten minutes later, I gave in. She was one happy girl when her Momma let her in bed with her for the rest of the night. Once we snuggled, all was right in her world. We'll see how night three goes. Here's to two hours in her own room so far tonight.

I mean, who could ever say no to this face?

Have you been up for a sunrise recently? No? Well I have. Often actually. But normally I attempt to keep my eyes shut as much as possible- or at least avoid any direct light that would keep me awake more than absolutely necessary. Yesterday morning was different. I was up with the baby and saying my daily prayer for the Giant when I noticed outside. It was so beautiful. I had to take a picture so I could share it with the Giant in my daily letters. God must have enjoyed painting that one. I sure enjoyed staring.

My New Favorite Song

With nothing much to say, I thought I would share the song that I can't get enough of right now. I heard it right before the Giant left while we were driving in the car one day, and it has become my new favorite.

I almost forgot

I am horrible about saying I will post things later on and never doing it. Oops. And thanks to Christi's Christmas post, I now remember that I never actually posted our Christmas 2010. Thanks Christi for the unintentional reminder! I would not want Cheyanne's first Christmas to go unposted.

As you know, we spent our Christmas without the Giant. Cheyanne's first Christmas :( . But, it was something we knew would happen and we willingly chose to do it this way, so no surprises there. It was harder than I expected, but thank God I had my family surrounding me keeping things upbeat. It has been such a blessing being here during this time. I figure, if I can't be with my husband, there is no where else I'd rather be.

We had so much family in, besides us that now live here- grandparents, parents, baby, and me.We had my sister and her husband in from California. My brother actually spent the night here Christmas Eve (which hasn't happened since we were kids all living in the house). My Aunt Jennie and her husband Bobby were in from Virginia Beach, as well as my cousins Adam and Angela. So, if you count, that is a total of 14 people here Christmas morning. It was a little crazy to say the least. Although, obviously, it wasn't crazy enough to keep someone awake.

This is how she spent most of the morning. Even when her Daddy surprise called us in the middle of present opening. Actually, not only did he call. He received special permission to video call us on my phone. This means, I got to SEE him! And boy did he look good!! We only were able to see each other for a few moments until we had to hang up and he called back to just talk (easier), but those few moments were the only Christmas present I needed.... not saying I don't appreciate all the others however! Once Chey woke up, she spent most of the morning in her Uncle Jonny and Aunt T's arms. They soaked her up, and she loved it!

She also spent quality time with Nana doing what they love to do best, read.

I did get at least these two picture with her on Christmas thankfully.

We ended up with a very white Christmas. It started snowing Christmas morning and covered us with about 4 inches by the time it stopped the next day. So, the day after Christmas we got out and played a little in it. Chey and I only lasted a few minutes in the cold, but the others played all morning.

So, that was our first Christmas. No family photos for us this year since we were missing one key player, but we had fun just the same. Santa was pretty great to us this year.